PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Zari Yasuda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Vespa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Yasuda
vs
Vespa

182 cm
23
142 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

169 cm
21
140 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Shango Designs
Shango Designs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Zari Yasuda!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Dan Vespa!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Glass and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Vespa does no damage.
Vespa tries to clinch but Yasuda is having none of it.
Vespa tries to clinch up but Yasuda circles away and keeps his distance.
Yasuda displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Vespa.
Vespa tries to clinch up.
Yasuda keeps the fight on the outside.
Vespa tries to clinch there but Yasuda circles away.
Yasuda thumps Vespa with a low kick.
Vespa tries for a takedown but Yasuda sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vespa has a takedown stuffed.
Zari Yasuda has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan Vespa.
Vespa doesn't manage to clinch there - Yasuda circles away.
A good leg kick by Yasuda.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yasuda pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Vespa shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Yasuda sprawls well. Yasuda wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Vespa gets slowly back to his feet.
Yasuda circles away from the clinch attempt.
Vespa tries to close the distance and clinch but Yasuda swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Vespa shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Yasuda pinned against the cage. Yasuda gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Yasuda looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Vespa takes a kick to the side of the head.
Yasuda turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vespa wants to clinch.
Yasuda scoring well with a low kick there.
Vespa tries to clinch up.
Vespa looks for a takedown but Yasuda sprawls well.
Yasuda moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Vespa looks gassed!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vespa shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Yasuda defends it nicely.

Yasuda gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vespa is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Yasuda lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Vespa is trying to drag Yasuda to the mat but Yasuda just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Yasuda lands a damaging elbow.
Vespa wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Vespa tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Yasuda has Vespa pressed against the cage.
Vespa goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Vespa tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Yasuda is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Yasuda lands a good knee to the midsection. Vespa won't want to take too many of those.
Vespa is trying to force a seperation but Yasuda has the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yasuda lands an elbow inside that Vespa shrugs off.
Yasuda landing knees to the head.
Yasuda leaning against his opponent.
Yasuda lands an elbow just above Vespa 's eye.
Yasuda scores with a hook to the body.
Vespa drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Yasuda gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Yasuda landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Yasuda effectively controlling the action here.
Vespa takes a knee right on the jaw!
Yasuda stalling in the clinch.
Vespa is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yasuda lands a damaging elbow.
Vespa tries to score a body lock takedown but Yasuda shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Yasuda lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zari Yasuda dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Vespa shoots in for a double leg but Yasuda sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Vespa shoots in but no luck this time.
Yasuda misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Yasuda fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Vespa shoots for a double leg takedown but Yasuda sprawls well. He's pushed Vespa's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Zari Yasuda has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan Vespa.
Vespa shoots in and drives through. Yasuda sprawls well.
Yasuda throws a leg kick which misses Vespa's front leg but catches the back leg as Vespa tries to avoid it.
Yasuda really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Yasuda fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Dan Vespa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yasuda scores with a head kick.
Vespa is breathing heavily.
Yasuda lands with a thumping leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A nice leg kick lands there from Yasuda.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yasuda closes the distance and pushes Vespa back into the cage.
Vespa takes an elbow to the temple.
Yasuda comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Yasuda displaying some good clinch control by pressing Vespa up against the cage.
Yasuda prevents a takedown attempt there.
Knees to the body from Yasuda.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Yasuda takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Yasuda working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Yasuda pressing his opponent against the cage.
Vespa jumps guard but Yasuda stands there with Vespa around his waist. Vespa gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yasuda tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Yasuda lands a hook that snaps the head of Vespa backwards.
Yasuda taking a breather.
Vespa's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Vespa is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Yasuda gets underhooks to prevent Vespa's takedown attempt.
Yasuda scores with a knee to the head.
Yasuda utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Vespa fails to pull guard.
Vespa is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Yasuda pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Vespa takes a knee right on the jaw!
Yasuda lands an elbow that stopped Vespa in his tracks for a moment.
Vespa fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Yasuda prevents the takedown attempt.
Yasuda using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Yasuda lands with a short shot to the head.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Yasuda for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Vespa has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Yasuda avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Yasuda creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Vespa's defenses.
Yasuda comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Vespa is trying desperately to land a takedown but Yasuda is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Vespa.
Vespa is trying to break free.
Yasuda content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Yasuda has Vespa pressed against the cage, preventing Vespa from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Vespa looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Yasuda lands an elbow that stopped Vespa in his tracks for a moment.
Yasuda putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Vespa in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Come on Vespa - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Vespa tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Yasuda smiles and moves away.
Vespa blocks a head kick by Yasuda.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Yasuda scores with a leg kick.
Yasuda throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Vespa is trying hard to land a takedown here. Yasuda sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Vespa tries to score a power double leg takedown but Yasuda sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Vespa somewhat.
Yasuda looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yasuda comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zari Yasuda dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Yasuda throws a series of punches but Vespa avoids them all with ease.
Yasuda lands a nice leg kick that just misses Vespa's sensitive parts.
Vespa tries to clinch
and Yasuda counters with a nice body shot.
Vespa misses with a takedown
and Yasuda counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Yasuda throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Yasuda misses with a head kick.
Vespa with a lazy takedown attempt
and Yasuda counters with a head kick.
Vespa takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Vespa tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Zari Yasuda is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vespa with a poor takedown

and Yasuda counters by moving into the clinch.
Zari Yasuda has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan Vespa.
Yasuda lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Yasuda gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Yasuda gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Vespa trying to control the position but instead, Yasuda has worked for underhooks and has pushed Vespa into the cage.
Yasuda lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Vespa drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Knees to the body from Yasuda.
Vespa tries to pull guard but Yasuda holds him up against the cage and eventually Vespa drops back down to his feet.
Vespa wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Yasuda is pushing Vespa up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Yasuda stops a takedown attempt from Vespa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yasuda scores a nice knee to the body.
Vespa wants a takedown but no success here.
Yasuda slows down the pace here.
Yasuda lands a nice elbow.
Yasuda landing knees to the head.
Nice elbow from Yasuda.
Vespa changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Yasuda fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Vespa takes a head kick and keeps coming.

It looks like Dan Vespa has been cut.
Yasuda jabs at Vespa's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yasuda circles away from the clinch attempt
and Yasuda counters with a right hand to the body.
Yasuda throws a sloppy head kick and Vespa moves out of range easily.
Vespa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Vespa fails with the takedown
and Yasuda counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Yasuda connects with a high kick.
Vespa walks into a stiff left hand from Yasuda.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vespa darts in trying to clinch
and Yasuda counters with a head kick.
Vespa closes the distance but Yasuda moves to the side
and Yasuda counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Yasuda misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Vespa misses with a takedown attempt
and Yasuda counters with an inside leg kick.
Yasuda throws a head kick that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yasuda misses with a head kick.
Vespa with a lazy takedown attempt
and Yasuda counters with a head kick. That will keep Vespa thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zari Yasuda clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Dan Vespa's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Vespa tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Yasuda counters with a nice low kick that buckles Vespa's knee momentarily.

Vespa clinches.
Vespa has had enough of the clinch but Yasuda keeps him there for the moment.
Yasuda comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Yasuda stalling.
Vespa tries to pull guard but Yasuda won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vespa can't get the takedown.
Yasuda stalling against the cage.
Yasuda gets underhooks to prevent Vespa's takedown attempt.
Zari Yasuda has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan Vespa.
Vespa tries to land knees in the clinch but Yasuda avoids the damage to the body.
Vespa is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Vespa tries to pull guard but Yasuda holds him up against the cage and eventually Vespa drops back down to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yasuda lands a nice elbow.
Nice elbow from Yasuda.
Yasuda stops a takedown attempt from Vespa.
Vespa drops down looking for an ankle pick but Yasuda pulls his leg out and moves away.
Vespa misses with a takedown attempt
and Yasuda counters with a thumping low kick.
Yasuda lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Vespa takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Yasuda fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Vespa.
Dan Vespa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A nice inside leg kick there by Yasuda. That's going to slow Vespa down.
Yasuda throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Vespa's head.
Vespa with a poor takedown
and Yasuda counters with a thumping low kick.
Yasuda is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Vespa can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yasuda's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Yasuda duly obliges.
Vespa takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Vespa feints and as Yasuda raises his hands in defense, Vespa changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vespa throws and elbow that misses. Yasuda uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Vespa's guard. Nice move by Yasuda!

Vespa working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Yasuda doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Yasuda manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Vespa is looking to sweep but instead, Yasuda has passed into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yasuda controlling the action here.
Vespa wants to get back to full guard.
Vespa is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Yasuda jumps into side control!
Yasuda knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Vespa on the ground.
Vespa struggling a bit here.
Vespa gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Yasuda decides to stand and escape the position.
Vespa tries for a takedown but Yasuda circles away easily
and Yasuda counters with an outside leg kick.
Yasuda punishes Vespa's body with a nice straight punch.
Yasuda connects with a solid leg kick.
Vespa takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Vespa misses with a takedown attempt
and Yasuda counters with a thumping low kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yasuda throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zari Yasuda had his way with Dan Vespa in that round.
The cut man is working on Dan Vespa's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Yasuda throws a head kick that Vespa semi-blocks.
Vespa misses with a takedown
and Yasuda counters with a leg kick.
Vespa with a poor takedown
and Yasuda counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Vespa is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Yasuda is looking to wear down Vespa with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Vespa with a poor takedown
and Yasuda counters with a good low kick that Vespa was not able to check.
Zari Yasuda has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan Vespa.
Yasuda throws a head kick that misses.
Yasuda pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Vespa tries for a takedown but Yasuda circles away easily
and Yasuda counters with a head kick.
Yasuda throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vespa with a lazy takedown attempt
and Yasuda counters with a low kick, right behind Vespa 's knee.

Yasuda gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A knee to the head by Yasuda.
Yasuda is pressed up against the cage. Vespa has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Yasuda down to the mat. Yasuda avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Yasuda rushes Vespa and presses him up against the cage.
Yasuda putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Vespa in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Yasuda with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Vespa taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Yasuda.
Yasuda using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Vespa is trying to break free.
Vespa is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Yasuda gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Yasuda effectively controlling the action here.
Zari Yasuda has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Vespa tries to pull guard but Yasuda holds him up against the cage and eventually Vespa drops back down to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vespa is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Yasuda gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Yasuda prevents a takedown attempt there.
Yasuda putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Vespa in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Yasuda landing knees to the body.
Yasuda leaning against his opponent.
Vespa wants a takedown.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Yasuda creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Vespa fails to pull guard.
A knee to the head by Yasuda.
Yasuda creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Vespa's defenses.
Yasuda gets underhooks to prevent Vespa's takedown attempt.
Yasuda lands an elbow inside.
Vespa takes an elbow to the temple.
Yasuda stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vespa takes an elbow to the forehead.
A nice left hand lands by Yasuda.
Vespa looking to stall.
Vespa letting Yasuda take a breather here.
Vespa throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Vespa takes a knee right on the jaw!
Yasuda lands a nice elbow.
Vespa is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Yasuda gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Vespa looking to slow down the pace here.
Yasuda using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Yasuda lands a nice elbow.
Dan Vespa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yasuda comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Yasuda gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Vespa.
Yasuda pressing his opponent against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Yasuda putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Vespa in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Yasuda landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Yasuda landing knees to the head.
Vespa has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Yasuda is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Yasuda lands an elbow inside.
Vespa looking for a takedown.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Yasuda takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Yasuda lands a knee to the body.
Yasuda lands a nice elbow.
Yasuda landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Yasuda comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Yasuda working Vespa over with knees to the body.
Vespa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Yasuda's elbow.
Vespa tries for a takedown but Yasuda manages to get underhooks.
Vespa swings away with an uppercut that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zari Yasuda showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Yasuda, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 50:41
Judge James Glass scores the fight 50:42
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 50:42

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zari Yasuda!
Zari Yasuda is the new bantamweight champion!